Students

It is amazing to me that even though I am not sure what my students are saying, it is blatantly obvious when they are being mean to another student.  Today, I watched one of my students laugh at another student.  I'm not sure why he was laughing at him.  If I had to guess it was because the first student is from a small town and has an accident.  The laughing student found this hilarious.  I found it incredibly mean.  Is it my job to teach these young adults how to be nice?  Is it my job to teach them compassion?  I am already teaching them the English language and Canadian culture.  When I don't know exactly what happened, it is difficult to really explore the issue.  Instead, I look at the laughing student and ask him if he is being kind.  He says he is laughing with his friend.  I look him in the eye and say that he should be kind and leave it at that.

Teaching is exhausting to me.  The drain of 20 students all requiring something from me.  This little introvert needs to find some new work.